Family
COMPULSIVE SPENDING AND LUXURY VACATIONS WILL RUIN YOU
© 2007
Walking outside of God’s will, what does that mean to the Christian? It’s not as complex of an issue as we might want to think and most of us are doing this everyday day with or without much consideration. When we splurge without thinking through the cost and spend money we don’t have then we are on a path that will “RUIN” our lives. God wants us to be sensible with our money and not behave foolishly with our lives, our hopes and our dreams and He expects us to live reasonably! That means that we put aside money for what we want and what we want to do in our financial decisions. We don’t drown in debt and we act wisely whether we are buying gas for the car, groceries or spending money for vacations or Christmas gifts. It all matters to God and it had better start mattering to us!
God has a strategy for each and every one of us and that is to understand His ways, His teachings, and His lessons on how to live a meaningful life. That means we, as Christians need to be on our toes to the little things that often distract us from dependence upon God. God has promised to give us our daily needs but we simply aren’t living like we believe God for these things. Case in point what items did you buy today that you know you didn’t really need?
I find I am compulsive about things that come up in my life especially shopping. When I go to Wal-mart I have to pay attention as I will place items in my basket I don’t really have to have. I am teaching myself that “THIS HAS GOT TO STOP”. I have to live knowing that what I have today can be lost tomorrow when I spend foolishly, especially now that I am on a fixed social security income. When that money is gone there is “NO MORE” until the fourth Wednesday of the month. “PUT IT BACK” and more than likely you’ll never miss it and forget you wanted that compulsive shopping item.
Each day people spend millions and millions of dollars wastefully. More likely than not you are one of those millions who has grown up getting what they want “NOW”. But it’s time to stop living like that! Instead of waiting we whip out our debit card, or even worse a “credit card” and buy, buy, buy. The only problem is that we are spending ourselves into spiritual and mental slavery and we are quickly drowning in a sea of debt. Until we get our spending under control and change our thinking we will be slaves to the almighty dollar and it has become our god. This is completely opposite from what God wants of us. He has said we cannot serve Him and our money too and that is true and you know which one you are serving as you read this. God expects and demands us to get our priorities straight and not let ourselves become enslaved by materialistic things.
So look at some of the things we buy compulsively:
Computer equipment
RV
All terrain vehicles
Big screen TV
boats
frequent meals out
A different car
Designer clothes
Expensive shoes
Newer appliances
Yard furniture
Candles and fancy decorations
CD’s
Ipods
Blackberry
DVD’s
Yard ornaments
Expensive pets
Campers
NASCAR tickets
Season tickets to sports events
Expensive vacations
Excessive food buying
Exotic foods
Snack foods and more. The next time you think about spending ask yourself, “DO I WITHOUT DOUBT HAVE TO HAVE _______ RIGHT NOW?” More than likely you can delay buying at least 1/3 of the things you throw in your basket when you shop at Target, K-mart, Wal-mart or any other place. We must stop behaving foolishly and get a grip on what happening here!
Before you check out gaze at the things you threw in your basked and figure up roughly how much you would save if you put 1/3 of those things back on the shelf. WELL? That, my friend, is wise shopping and we need to begin this very day shopping like that when we go to “ANY” store. This one simple test and your decision to “NO BUY” is like placing money back in your pocket and saying “NO” to “TEMPTATION”.
Restraint yourself by saying I will wait three more days before buying _________ and then think about what you can do with what you don’t waste at the store by the money you have saved. Think about how much these things “REALLY” add up in your spending allotment. Now, think for a moment, if you are using a credit card to buy ANY ITEM in that basket how much interest you will pay “EVERY MONTH” for those items. Can you really afford 12-25% finance charges for whatever you think you want in that basket? That’s not a ONE TIME charge friend, it goes on and on and on until you are debt free. That may be hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest or you may “NEVER” be debt free unless you stop the madness and start spending wisely.
And, if you have been seduced by the commercials telling you how affordable one of those trips to Florida is for under a couple of thousand dollars think again! That vacation for little Johnny and Suzie and the family may cost you several thousand dollars over the years if you put your expenses on a credit card. Stop being fooled by “credit card” rape! Stop letting them rule your life for the next ten, twenty or thirty years. Just think what if a medical emergency comes up? What if you can’t work or lose your job? Can you know for sure you can pay your credit card balances off? More than likely not!
Do you really want to pay a credit card company 20% per month of what you spend on your vacation for “SEVERAL YEARS”? DO YOU? SAVE for your trips and your vacations and for the cameras, computer stuff and all the other gadgets you want. You are making big credit card company’s master of your soul and your life because you “can’t” or “won’t” control your spending habits.
Don’t get into debt that you can’t find the money for “CHRISTMAS” or anything else. Don’t buy that luxury item “KNOWING” that you are paying interest on credit cards or bank loans to get anything because you know this is a trap and you can’t pay your way out of it. Be wise. Think about what you are doing to yourself and your family! STOP THE MADNESS! Take control of your life. Make a list before you go to the store and buy only what you must have. When you establish this practice you will see God working in your life to free from the yoke of financial slavery that has constrained you. Stop being enslaved to VISA or MASTER CARD or AMERICAN EXPRESS. Ask the Lord to point up ways to take care of what you have and make it last. Enroll in a money-managing course at church or in the community and learn how to live within your means. You will be much happier when you do what God wants and letting God give you peace and happiness in being free from money woes.
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